Vehicle safety restraint system

ABSTRACT

A vehicle safety restraint system comprises a portable base having a mounting assembly and a restraint assembly. The portable base may be a booster seat. The mounting assembly mounts the base the base to the seat of a vehicle and the restraint assembly restrains an occupant of the base. The mounting assembly may wrap around at least a portion of the vehicle seat to mount the booster seat to the vehicle. The restraint assembly may comprise a five-point or a four-point restraint and may include a lateral support assembly. The restraint assembly may further include a torso support assembly. A method of mounting a portable base to a vehicle seat is provided.

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a continuation of our prior application, Ser. No. 10/574,519,filed on Apr. 3, 2006. This patent application claims priority to andthe benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 574,519, filed 3 Apr.2006 which claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication 60/510,633, filed 10 Oct. 2003; U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 60/539,399, filed 27 Jan. 2004; and U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application No. 60/550,350, filed 05 Mar. 2004, the disclosuresof each of which are now incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This disclosure relates generally to passenger restraint systems for usein vehicles, and more particularly, to portable add-on restraintsystems.

Conventional vehicle restraint or seat belt systems combining a lap beltand an upper torso or shoulder belt to restrain an occupant or passengerin a vehicle are well known. These three-point restraint systemsintegral to the vehicle are usually used with seats offering rigidsupport for the belts. As typically used in a vehicle, the three-pointrestraint system consists of a single belt having its opposite endsmounted to a pair of retractors with a seat belt tongue connected to thebelt intermediate to the belt ends. The tongue may be swung across theperson and engaged with a buckle affixed to the seat thereby positioningone portion of the belt across the lap and another portion of the beltacross the upper torso. In some systems, only one end of the belt ismounted to a retractor while the other end is anchored to the seat orvehicle. These seat belt systems are active restraint devices, generallyrequiring a passenger to positively engage the restraints about theperson for them to be effective.

School bus passenger seats usually do not employ active restraint safetydevices, but instead rely on a passive restraint seat design. School buspassenger seats are built to specifications conforming to the safetystandards set by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration,Department of Transportation (DOT). These are codified as 49 C.F.R.Ch.V,§571.222, Standard No. 222 (Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard(FMVSS) 222), and require that the seat back bend or deflect forwardwhen a force is applied to the rear of the seat back. The code specifiesa passive restraint system, and currently does not require any sort ofactive restraints, such as a two-point passenger restraining lap belt orthe above-described three-point passenger restraining lap belt and torsoharness combination. Rather, passengers riding the school bus areprotected in head-on collisions by the seat back in front of themdeflecting forward and absorbing some of their forward momentum.

Further passenger protection, from head-on and non-head-on collisionsand roll events, may be provided by active restraint systems. One suchactive restraint system might be a two-point lap belt restraint.Vehicles, such as buses, which require the passive protection providedby deforming or deflecting seats, present certain challenges regardingthe integration of active restraint seat belt systems. In a school busseat combining active and passive restraint systems, both of therestraint systems may need to be able to perform their functions and theseat may still need to conform to the regulations set forth in FMVSS222, which is incorporated herein by reference. In addition to two-pointactive lap restraint systems, examples of vehicle seats designed tocombine both active and passive restraint systems in conformity withFMVSS 222 are found in commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 6,485,098, and U.S.Pat. No. 6,886,889, the disclosures of which are now incorporated hereinby reference.

Two-point lap belt systems, or these new three-point lap belt systemsmay allow the use of various add-on restraint systems on buses or othervehicles. For example, torso harnesses, positioning harnesses, portablechild seats and booster seats. For example, portable child seats forinfants and children up to about 50 pounds and booster seats forchildren between about 30 and about 70 pounds, may be mounted to avehicle for restraint of a passenger or occupant. Commonly owned U.S.Pat. No. 6,886,889 discloses supplemental restraint systems for use witha school bus seat in accordance with FMVSS 222. Examples of boosterseats are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,797,654 to Stroud, U.S. Pat. No.5,829,834 to Silverman, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,685,604 to Kain, which areincorporated by reference herein.

These add-on child restraint systems may be coupled to a vehicle seatusing various connectors and anchorage systems. The federal governmenthas mandated that child restraint anchorage systems be installed in mostvehicles, including cars, trucks, vans, sports utility vehicles (SUVs)and certain school buses. These regulations, codified at 49 C.F.R.§571.225 (FMVSS 225), incorporated herein by reference, require twolower anchorages and an upper tether anchorage of specifiedconfiguration, location and strength parameters. Similarly, 49 C.F.R.§571.213 (FMVSS 213), incorporated herein by reference, specifies thedimensions of tether hooks used to attach a tether strap to a tetheranchorage. Yet, there are pre-existing seats in school buses that do nothave active restraint systems of any kind, or which might benefit fromadditional restraint systems of some kind. Disclosed herein are add-onor supplemental vehicle restraint systems configured to wrap mount tovehicle seats without the use of any lower anchorages, any upper tetheranchorages, or the use of any active restraint system integral to theseat. These supplemental restraint systems may, but need not becompatible with FMVSS 222. Also disclosed are add-on vehicle restraintsystems configured to mount to vehicle seats using one or more loweranchorages and/or one or more upper tether anchorage, alone or incombination with each other and/or with the other mountingconfigurations disclosed herein. Such add-on systems include those foruse by occupants with special physical or mental needs. Furtherdisclosed herein are add-on vehicle restraint systems configured tomount to a vehicle using, alone or in combination with one or more lowerand/or upper anchorage and/or a wrap mount system, the two-point andthree-point restraint systems integral to the vehicle. In addition, anadd-on vehicle restraint system configured for simultaneous use by morethan one occupant or passenger is disclosed.

The present invention may comprise one or more of the features recitedin the attached claims, and/or one or more of the following features andcombinations thereof. An add-on restraint system or restraining devicemay be mounted to the vehicle seat of any of a number of vehicles suchas cars, school buses, tour buses, vans, SUVs, recreational vehicles(RVs), air planes, watercraft, and other vehicles or modes ofconveyance, such as for example ski lifts, without limitation. Theillustrative restraint system comprises a base such as for example abooster seat, a mounting assembly coupled or attached to the base andconfigured to mount the booster seat to the vehicle seat, and arestraint assembly coupled or attached to the base and configured torestrain a passenger positioned on the booster seat. The mountingassembly and the restraint assembly may be coupled or associated withone another. The booster seat may be configured to accommodate anoccupant or passenger weighing between about 30 and 90 pounds. In oneembodiment the mounting assembly comprises one or more flexible membersthat wrap around at least a portion of the back of the vehicle seat. Inanother embodiment, connecters attached or coupled to the booster seatmay engage anchorages attached to the vehicle to mount the booster seatto the vehicle. In another embodiment, the booster seat may beconfigured to mount to the vehicle seat by receiving the vehicles'sintegrated seat belt system. In other embodiments, one or more of theabove means of mounting the booster seat to the vehicle seat may becombined. For example the booster seat may be wrap-mounted and rigidlymounted using a connector attached to the booster seat, and or mountedusing the vehicle's integrated seat belt system.

Thus, in another embodiment, this invention comprises ananchorage-mounted restraint system for use on seats found in suchvehicles as for example cars, school buses, tour buses, vans, SUVs, RVs,air planes, watercraft, and other vehicles or modes of conveyance,without limitation. This restraining device may also comprise a mountingassembly, a booster seat, and a restraint assembly.

In yet another embodiment, this invention comprises a combinationwrap-mounted and anchorage-mounted restraint system or restrainingdevice and method of using same for use on seats found in such vehiclesas for example cars, school buses, tour buses, vans, SUVs, RVs, airplanes, watercraft, and other vehicles or modes of conveyance, such asfor example ski lifts, without limitation. The restraint system maycomprise a mounting assembly, a booster seat or base, and a restraintassembly.

The mounting assembly may comprise in any combination webs andconnectors. The restraint assembly may comprise any combination offlexible, semi-flexible, rigid or semi-rigid restraint members such asfor example webs, and associated tongues, buckles, and web adjusters.The restraint assembly may further comprise a torso support assembly.The restraint system or device may further comprise a lateral supportassembly. The lateral support assembly may be positioned as desired. Apositioning member may help to position the mounting assembly on thevehicle seat. The restraint system or device may collapse into acarrying case provided by the base, which may be equipped with a handleor other device configured to allow gripping and carrying of the system.The restraint system may be configured to restrain two or more occupantsby providing a plurality of booster seats, mounting assemblies andrestraint assemblies in combination. The plurality of booster seats maybe rigidly connected when mounted to the vehicle seat. A cover may beprovided to cover portions of the restraint system.

Also provided is a method of mounting an occupant restraint system to avehicle seat comprising a back portion having a front and back surfaceand a seat portion having a top and bottom surface, with the back andseat portions defining a bight therebetween, comprising the steps of:

passing a first opposing end of a web over at least a portion of the topof the vehicle seat and down at least a portion of the front surface ofthe back portion;

passing a second end of a web over the top of the vehicle seat and downat least a portion of the back surface of the back portion and throughthe bight toward the front surface;

placing a booster seat on a portion of the top surface of the seatportion;

attaching the first opposing end of the web to the booster seat;

attaching the second opposing end of the web to the booster seat.

Further provided is a method of mounting an occupant restraint system toa vehicle seat comprising a back portion having a front and back surfaceand a seat portion having a top and bottom surface, with the back andseat portions defining a bight therebetween, comprising the steps of:

-   -   placing a booster seat on a portion of the top surface of the        seat portion;    -   engaging a connector attached to the booster seat to an        anchorage located in the bight of the seat.

Additional features will become apparent to those skilled in the artupon consideration of the following detailed description of illustrativeembodiments and claims exemplifying the best mode of carrying out theinvention as presently perceived.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of a seat having one exemplary embodiment of anillustrative restraint system mounted thereto.

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the seat of FIG. 1 depicting the back of theillustrative restraint system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the seat of FIG. 1 depicting anotherexemplary embodiment of an illustrative restraint system.

FIG. 4 is a rear view of the seat of FIG. 1 depicting the back ofanother illustrative restraint system.

FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of an illustrative seat portion showinga connector in an extended position.

FIG. 6 is a partial view showing the connector of FIG. 5 in a stowedposition.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of an illustrative seat portion takengenerally along the line 7-7 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of an illustrative cover for use with any of theillustrative embodiments.

FIG. 9 is a front view of a seat having another exemplary embodiment ofan illustrative restraint system mounted thereto.

FIG. 10 is a front view of a seat having another exemplary embodiment ofan illustrative restraint system mounted thereto.

FIG. 11 is a front view of a seat having three exemplary embodimentsmounted thereto.

FIG. 12 is a top perspective view of another illustrative seat portion.

FIG. 13 is a bottom perspective view of the illustrative seat portion ofFIG. 12.

FIG. 14 depicts another illustrative cover for use with any of theillustrative embodiments and having another illustrative lateral supportassembly in a deployed position.

FIG. 15 depicts the illustrative cover of FIG. 14 with the lateralsupport assembly in a stowed position.

FIG. 16 depicts the illustrative cover of FIG. 14 with the lateralsupport assembly in an intermediate position between the stowed and thedeployed positions.

FIG. 17 depicts an illustrative positioning piece for use with any ofthe illustrative embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of theinvention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated inthe drawings and specific language will be used to describe same. Itwill nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of theinvention is thereby intended, such alterations and furthermodifications in the illustrated device, and such further applicationsof the principles of the invention as illustrated therein beingcontemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to whichthe invention relates.

The drawings depict several illustrative embodiments, which will bedescribed now in detail. Throughout the description and drawings, thesame reference numerals are used to refer to identical components in thedifferent embodiments, with the same description of those componentsapplying throughout. In addition, reference numerals incremented by 100or 200 generally are used to refer to substantially identicalcomponents, with the differences between the embodiments describedherein. In addition, it will again be appreciated that unless specifiedotherwise the various components described herein may be made from anysuitable non-metallic, metallic, or composite materials, or acombination thereof if desired.

Referring to FIGS. 1-17, illustrative embodiments of the vehiclerestraint system are depicted. In the illustrative embodiments, theillustrative restraint systems 10, 110, 210, 310 are configured for usewith a vehicle seat 11 comprising a generally vertically extending backportion 12 and a generally horizontally extending seat portion 13. Theback portion or seat back 12 and the seat portion 13 converge and meetin an area generally known as the bight 15 of the seat. As used hereinbelow, vehicle seat 11 in FIGS. 1-4 and 9-10 may be any conventionalvehicle seat found in for example a bus, a van, a truck, an SUV, an RV,a watercraft, or an aircraft, or, with the exception of the embodimentillustrated in FIG. 10, one-half or one-third of a two passenger orthree-passenger seat etc. found in any such vehicle.

Illustrative restraint systems 10, 110, 210, 310 comprise generally aseat base 18, 118, 318 such as for example a booster seat 18, 118, 318,a restraint assembly 20, 220 and a mounting assembly 40, 140, 240, 340.As will be explained further, the vehicle's own restraint system may beused in addition to or in lieu of mounting assembly 40, 140, 240 tomount booster seat 118. The booster seat 18, 118, 318 may be of anysuitable design. For example, and without limitation, it may be moldedfrom plastic, or other suitable metallic, non-metallic or suitablecomposite material and may be contoured. Illustratively, as best seen inFIGS. 5, 12 and 13, booster seat 18, 118 comprises a top surface 96, abottom surface 97 opposite and spaced apart from the top surface 96, afront surface 98 spaced apart and opposite a rear surface 100, andspaced apart side surfaces 99 disposed generally between or adjacent tothe top 96, bottom 97, front 98 and rear 100 surfaces. The top surface96 may be contoured to conform to a human body. As seen in FIG. 10,booster seat 318 comprises intervening side surfaces 399 that divide thetop surface 96 into multiple top surfaces 96A, 96B and 96C toaccommodate or support a passenger or occupant on each of these surfaces96A-C. The side surfaces 99 depicted in FIG. 10 are somewhat exaggeratedfor illustrative purposes and may or may not be of lesser height inactual commercial embodiments. In any event, the intervening sidesurfaces 399 may be formed in the booster seat 318 with a verticalheight less than the height of the side surfaces 99. While twointervening side surfaces 399 are depicted, it will be appreciated thata single intervening side surface 399, in excess of two intervening sidesurfaces, or no intervening side surfaces 399 at all would fall withinthe scope of the invention. For example and without limitation, base 318might be formed with a single intervening side surface 399 toaccommodate only two occupants, or formed with three intervening sidesurfaces 399 to accommodate four occupants as desired, or might beformed with no intervening side surfaces 399 to accommodate two to fouroccupants depending on the number of restraint assemblies. No matter thenumber of passenger or occupant sections desired, it will be appreciatedthat the booster seat base 318 of system 310 may be of monolithicconstruction. Such monolithic construction may be rigid across thelength of the booster seat 318, or it may be for example collapsible.For example, though integrally connected to each other, as by a hinge,occupant section 96A may fold over on top of section 96B and section 96Cmay fold under section 96B. In other embodiments, the various occupantsections 96A-C may comprise wholly separate sections that may bereleasably joined together for occupant use and then disassembled forease of transport. It will be appreciated, however, that when thebooster seat base 318 is mounted to the vehicle seat 11, it may bedesirable that the base 318 be rigidly assembled. It is also the case,as noted above, that two or three or more restraint systems 10, 110, 210may separately be disposed on a two-passenger or three-passenger seatsuch that two or three separate booster seats 18, 118 are disposed onthe vehicle seat 11 as shown for example in FIG. 11. In such a case, oreven if only one booster seat 18, 118 is mounted to the vehicle seat asseen in FIG. 2, it might be desirable to use a positioning member 107,such as for example and without limitation the illustrative positioningmember depicted in FIG. 17. Positioning member 107, which illustratively(FIGS. 2 and 11) may be adjacent to or even coupled to the seat back topportion 14, comprises a plurality of voids or loops 108A-C configured toposition the mounting assemblies on the seat 11. Illustratively,positioning member 107 may be fashioned from any suitable flexible,semi-flexible, semi-rigid or rigid material and such material may bemetallic, non-metallic or composite in composition. For example andwithout limitation, positioning member 107 may be fashioned out of aflexible or semi-flexible belt or web material looped back on itself andcoupled together at various points 109 to form loops or voids 108A-C.The coupling points 109 may be formed using for example and withoutlimitation sewing, gluing, melting, cementing, riveting, hook and loop,tacking and the like. It will be appreciated that while three loops orvoids 108A-C are illustrated, the positioning member could be fashionedwith two loops or four or more loops as desired. For example, in thecase of a vehicle having seats with only one or two positions, thepositioning member 107 may be formed with only one or two loops 108.Positioning member 107 may be permanently or non-permanently coupled tothe vehicle seat, for example and without limitation to the top portion14 of the seat back portion 12 (FIG. 2), or to the back portion 12itself or to the opposite back surface 16 of the back portion 12. Thepositioning member 107 could even be used with system 310 of FIG. 10. Ascan be seen in FIG. 2, the positioning member 107 need not be coupled tothe vehicle seat at all as the one or more sets of straps 42, 43, willkeep the positioning member 107 in place. It will be appreciated thatthe use of a positioning member 107 may necessitate the elimination ofcross member 58 and V-member 63, or the use of a non-permanentlyattached or removable cross member 58 and V-member 63 as furtherdescribed below.

The illustrative booster seats 18, 118, 318 may be equipped with anydesired amount and composition of cushioning and may be covered by clothor other suitable material such as for example the cover 180 depicted inFIG. 8 as will be explained further below. The booster seat or base 18,118, 318 illustratively may be formed with various indentations 93, 102(FIGS. 5 and 7), which may for example provide rigidity while reducingweight. The booster seat or base 18, 118, 318 illustratively mayaccommodate occupants from about 30 pounds up to about 90 pounds.Looking at FIGS. 7, 12 and 13, it can be seen that the booster seat 18,118, 318 may also be formed with various anchor points, such as forexample mounting assembly anchor points 86 and 85, each illustrativelyformed with a void 87 therethrough, and restraint assembly anchor points81 and 82, each also illustratively formed with a void 83 therethrough.Also formed through at least a portion of each side surface 99 and therear surface 100 may be one or more recesses 103, which are sized toreceive any of a number of suitable connectors such as for example andwithout limitation connector 68. Additional recesses (not shown), eachsized to receive therein an additional connector 68, may also be formedthrough rear surface 100. For example, additional recesses might bedesired in the vicinity of intervening side surface(s) 399. Examples ofsome suitable illustrative connectors 68 are disclosed in co-owned U.S.Pat. No. 6,962,394, the disclosure of which is now incorporated hereinby reference. As will be explained, indentations 102 also facilitate thegrasping and manipulation of illustrative connector 68 by a user. Thebooster seat 18, 118, 318 further comprises a web guide 88, which isformed with a void 89 therethrough. The various voids 83, 87, 89illustratively help lighten the base 18, 318 and may provide rigidity,as well as anchor points. It will be appreciated that the booster seat18, 118, 318 could also serve as a carrying case, similar to for exampleand without limitation, a suitcase or brief case, having a handle (67and not shown) and configured to hold and store therein or thereon therestraint and mounting assemblies. The booster seat 18, 118, 318 may beconfigured to mount to vehicle seat 11 and properly position an occupantfor use of the restraint assembly 20, 220, which is attached to thebooster seat 18, 118, 318 as will now be explained.

The restraint assembly 20, 220 and the mounting assembly 40, 140, 240,340 may each be attached to the booster seat 18, 118, 318 and associatedor coupled to each other as described herein. Each mounting assembly 40,140, 240, 340 generally comprises one or more flexible or semi-flexiblemembers such as for example without limitation webs, belts, straps,ropes, or the like. Illustratively, the restraint assembly 40 of theexemplary embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 comprises five wrap aroundflexible or semi-flexible members, namely, a pair of over webs 42, 43, apair of under webs 52, 53 and a third under strap or web 62. Theillustrative pair of over webs 42 and 43 straddle over the top portion14 of the back portion 12 with each web 42, 43 having opposing ends thatproceed over and downwardly away from the top portion 14 along at leasta portion of the front surface of back portion 12 and along at least aportion of the opposite back surface 16 of back portion 12. The firstopposing end portions of webs 42, 43 proceed down the front surface ofback portion 12 and are coupled to the booster seat 18, 118, 318 by anysuitable means, such as for example, without limitation, by rivet,screw, cement, tack, slot and spindle, snap, hook and loop, zipper,button, melting, tongue and buckle and the like, and even illustrativeconnector 68 may be used. For example, the first opposing end portionsof webs 42, 43 may couple to the seat 18, 118, 318 at one or more of themounting assembly anchor points 86 formed in the booster seat 18, 118,318 as seen for example in FIG. 7. Those skilled in the art willappreciate that other mounting assemblies, such as for example theillustrative mounting assembly 140 depicted in FIG. 3, fall within thescope of the invention. In mounting assembly 140, the first opposing endportions of webs 42, 43 illustratively form connecting member 44.Connecting member 44 may be made from any suitable flexible,semi-flexible, rigid or semi-rigid material. It may comprise a strap,web, rope, belt or the like. So too, it may be fashioned from anysuitable plastic, metallic, non-metallic, or composite material. Theconnecting member 44 illustratively forms a V-shape. It may be a singlemonolithic member or it may be comprised of several members which formthe V-shape, converging toward and coupling to member 41 as depicted. Sotoo, for example, web portions 42, 43 may fold back on themselves, andillustratively, be sewn, melted, glued, cemented, riveted, tacked, orthe like to themselves in order to create the angled, or V-portions 44.One of other suitable alternatives may be for example to couple thefirst opposing end portions of webs 42, 43 to separate lengths of web44, or other suitable material, to form the V-portions. Member 41 may beany suitable flexible, semi-flexible or rigid member. Illustratively,member 41 comprises a flexible or semi-flexible member such as a web,belt, strap, or rope. Illustratively, connecting member 44 may beattached to web 41 by any suitable means such as for example and withoutlimitation by sewing, gluing, melting, cementing, riveting, hook andloop, tacking and the like. Web 41 illustratively proceeds down at leasta portion of the front surface 12 and attaches to the booster seat 18,118, 318 at a suitable mounting assembly anchor point 86 depicted forexample in FIG. 7, or at a mounting assembly anchor point (not shown)formed generally somewhere between the anchor points 86 depicted in FIG.7, or even elsewhere on booster seat 18, 118, 318. It will beappreciated that even further illustrative mounting assembly embodimentsare suitable, for example, web 41 could form or be connected toadditional connecting member V-portions at the opposing end of web 41opposite the depicted V-portions of connecting member 44, each of whichin turn could attach to mounting assembly anchor points 86. So too, oneor more additional members (not shown) could be placed adjacent the webs42, 43 and proceed generally parallel thereto, attaching, for example,to cross member 58 (FIGS. 2 and 4) and/or to cross member 59 (FIGS. 1and 3), each described in more detail below, and to booster seat 18,118, 318 at one of the already described anchor points, or yet anothermounting assembly anchor point 86.

The opposing second end portions of webs 42, 43 generally proceed downat least a portion of the opposite back surface 16 as best seen in FIGS.2 and 4. Illustratively, web adjusters 46 and 47 are movably disposed onrespective webs 42 and 43. Web adjusters 46 and 47 may each be equippedwith a conventional fastener 45, such as for example, withoutlimitation, the pictured snap hook 45. Although the snap hook 45 isconnected to the web adjuster 46, 47 by a piece of web, it may also bean integral part of the web adjuster, or connected to the web adjusterthrough any other suitable means. An non-exclusive example of a suitablefastener is the aforementioned connector 68, which is depicted in FIG.5. Other fasteners or connectors known in the art could be used as well.Webs 42 and 43 may, but need not be associated by one or morecross-members 58, 59 which may be any suitable flexible, semi-flexible,rigid, or semi-rigid member. Illustratively, the cross-member 58 shownin FIGS. 2 and 4, and the cross-member 59 best seen in FIG. 3 may be alength of web, strap, rope, belt, and the like, without limitation. Sotoo, the cross-members 58, 59 may be a piece of plastic or other rigidor semi-rigid member.

Referring to FIG. 2, the illustrative pair of flexible or semi-flexiblemembers or under webs 52 and 53 each have opposing end portions. Thefirst opposing end portions of each web 52 and 53 proceed down at leasta portion of the back surface 16, proceed through the bight 15 of theseat emerging at the bottom of the front surface of the back 12, and arecoupled to the booster seat 18, 118, 318 by any suitable means, such asfor example, without limitation, by rivet, screw, cement, tack, slot andspindle, snap, hook and loop, zipper, button, melting, tongue andbuckle, or other suitable fastener or connector, such as for exampleconnector 68, and the like. Any such suitable coupling or fastener meansmay attach to the booster seat at one or more of the aforementionedmounting assembly anchor points 86 shown in FIG. 7, or as describedherein. The second opposing end of each web 52 and 53 is equipped with acoupling member 54 which defines a coupling hole 55 therethrough. Thecoupling hole 55 is sized to receive the couple with the fastener 45 orother suitable connector in order to couple together webs 42 and 43 withrespective webs 52 and 53. It will be appreciated that the webs 42 and43 may be coupled together with webs 52 and 53 using any other suitablemeans. By way of example, and without limitation, webs 42 and 43 may becoupled together with webs 52 and 53 using: hooks and loops, seat beltbuckles and tongues, snaps, zippers and the like or any suitableconnector such as for example connector 68, or any combination thereof.So too, as will be explained, webs 42 and 52, and/or webs 43 and 53respectively may be combined together each to form a single web. Inother words, a single web may replace the combination of webs 42 and 52,and/or the combination of webs 43 and 53, which single web(s) 42/52and/or 43/53 could connect directly to anchor points 86 using fastener45 or connector 68, for example. Also, one or both fasteners 45, orconnector 68 for example, could couple directly to a tether anchoragesuch as for example the anchorage 60 of FIG. 4, or to a lower anchorage21 of FIG. 3, rather than to webs 52, 53 and/or directly to any of theanchor points 86 on booster seat 18, 118, 318 Illustratively, a thirdunder strap 62 may be positioned between the over webs 42, 43 andbetween the under webs 52, 53 as depicted in FIG. 2. Although each ofthese webs 42, 43, 52, 53, 62 is shown in spaced-apart relation to eachother, they need not be spaced apart. Like the other webs 42, 43, 52,53, under web 62 may be made of any suitable flexible or semi-flexiblematerial. Under web 62 comprises two opposing ends. First opposing endof under web 62 illustratively is coupled to each of webs 42, 43 by theuse of connecting member 63. Like connecting member 44, connectingmember 63 may be any suitable flexible member such as for example astrap, web, rope, belt or the like. Connecting member 63 may also be asemi-flexible, semi-rigid or rigid member, for example a piece ofplastic or other metallic, non-metallic or composite material. Asdepicted, connecting member illustratively forms a substantiallyV-shaped member. It will be appreciated, as described above inconjunction with connecting member 44, that this V-shaped connectingmember 63 may be a monolithic member or it may comprise two or morepieces joined together by any suitable means such as for example bysewing, melting, gluing, cementing, riveting, tacking, or the like. Itwill also be appreciated that the connecting member 63 may be eliminatedaltogether, as for example in the case where the third under web 62 iscoupled directly to the cross-member 58. So too, under web 62 could becoupled directly to only one of the over webs 42, 43. In any event, theconnecting member 63 illustratively is coupled to over web 42 atposition 64, to over web 43 at position 65, and to third under web 62 atposition 66 by stitching 77. While these couplings illustratively areaccomplished using stitching 77, as are the couplings of cross web 58 atpositions 64, 65 and as are the fasteners 45 and coupling members 54 torespective webs 42, 43, 52, 53, those skilled in the art will recognizethat other suitable couplings, both permanent and releasable ornon-permanent such as for example and without limitation, snaps, rivets,tacks, hook and loop, glue, cement, melting, and the like may be used.It will be appreciated that the transition between a single web, forexample webs 41, 62, and a V-shaped connecting member, for exampleconnecting members 44, 63, may be aided by a rigid or semi rigidspreader (not shown) as is know in the art. One of many examples of asuitable spreader bar is found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,660,889, thedisclosure of which is enclosed herein by reference.

The second opposing end of under web 62 proceeds downwardly away fromcross-member 58 along at least a portion of the back surface 16, pastthe bight 15, under seat portion 13 passing along the bottom surface ofthe seat portion 13, upwardly around the front facing surface 17 of seatportion 13, and across at least a portion of the top surface of seatportion 13 to couple with booster seat 18, 118, 318 at mounting assemblyanchor point 85 by any suitable means, such as for example, withoutlimitation, by a snap hook 45, hook and loop, snaps, buttons, slot andspindle, tongue and buckle, cement, or connector 68, and the like.Although not shown in FIG. 2, it will be appreciated that under web 62may be equipped with a web adjuster 46 as shown in the alternativeembodiment of FIG. 4, in order to adjust the operable length of the web62. The opposing end of under web 62 that couples with the booster seat18, 118, 318 may form or be attached to a connector member (not shown),similar to connector members 44, 63, to allow coupling to the boosterseat 18, 118, 318 at more than one anchor point 85 (and not shown). Inaddition, the opposing end of under web 62 that couples with the boosterseat 18, 118, 318 may be attached to a fastener such as a snap hook 61as shown in FIG. 4 or to a connector such as connector 68 which maycouple directly with anchor point 85, as noted above, or directly to atether anchorage 60 as shown in FIG. 4 and described herein below.

While FIGS. 1 and 2 depict five separate webs 42, 43, 52, 53 and 62,those skilled in the art will further appreciate that a single web, ortwo webs, or any other combination of one or more webs may be used tomount the booster seat base 18, 118, 318 to the vehicle seat 11. Whilethis notion was briefly described above, further description nowfollows. For example, the webs 42 and 43, together with respective webs52 and 53, conceptually may each comprise a single length of web, foruse alone or in combination with one or more other webs. In such a case,for example, web 42 and web 52, or web 43 and web 53, would comprise asingle length of web with the opposing ends of this length of web beingattached to the booster seat 18, 118, 318 as described, for exampleusing a central mounting assembly anchor point, and with at least one ofthe opposing end attachments being releasable. More particularly, thesingle web (not shown) conceptually formed by combining web 42 and web52, or web 43 and web 53, could attach to booster seat 18, 118, 318 atan appropriately located mounting assembly anchor point 86 (or notshown), wrap around all or portions of the seat back 12, 14, 16, andeither pass through the bight 15 and attach to one of the mountingassembly anchor points 86 (or not shown) or pass under the seat as web62 may, and attach to mounting assembly anchor point 85. The firstsingle strap formed by either webs 42, 52 or webs 43, 53 or perhaps anyother suitable single strap or web, such as the single web 62 in FIG. 4,may be enough to mount the booster seat 18, 118, 318 to the vehicle seat11, however, a second single strap, could also be used in conjunctionwith the first single strap to mount the booster seat 18, 118, 318 tothe vehicle seat 11. For example, if the first single strap is formed bywebs 42 and 52, then the second single strap could be formed by webs 43and 53 to form a single length of web having at least one end attachedto the booster seat in a non-permanent manner, and having the opposingend attached in either a permanent or non-permanent manner for use withthe first single web conceptually formed by uniting web 42 and web 52,or vice versa. So too, a single web could be used with the separatecombination of webs 42 and 52, or of webs 43 and 53 such that three webswould be used.

By way of example and without limitation, the booster seat 18, 118, 318and mounting assembly 40 as just described may be mounted to seat 11 asfollows. The booster seat 18 may be placed on a portion of the topsurface of seat portion 13. Then the over webs 42, 43 may be coupled tothe booster seat 18, if not already coupled to the booster seat 18 whenplaced on the seat portion 13. The webs 42, 43 may then be routed overthe top portion 14 and down at least a portion of the back surface 16 asdescribed and then coupled to the under webs 52 and 53 by mating of thefasteners 45 and couplers 54 as described. Illustratively, the webs 42,43 could also, but need not be routed through any one of the voids orloops 108A-C of positioning member 107 as desired. If the third underweb 62 is not already coupled to the over webs 42, 43, and /or if thecross-member 58 is not already coupled to the over webs 42, 43, then thethird under web 62 and the cross-member or members 58 may be coupled tothe webs 42, 43 as described. Then the under webs 52, 53 may be passedover at least a portion of the back surface 16 and through the bight 15and then connected to the booster seat 18, 118, 318 as described, andthe under web 62 may be passed under and across the bottom surface ofseat 13 and attached to the booster seat 18, 118, 318 as described. Thenthe loose ends 48 and 49 are pulled away from respective adjusters 46,47 to take the slack out of the webs 42, 43, 52, 53 as desired. So too,the slack may be taken out of under web 62 through the use of a webadjuster 46 (FIG. 4) or other suitable means known to those skilled inthe art. It will be appreciated that the foregoing steps may beaccomplished in any other suitable order or way. For example, the underwebs 52, 53 may be attached to the booster seat 18, 118, 318 and thenpassed through the bight 15 and then passed upwardly for coupling withover webs 42, 43. It will also be appreciated that any of the abovedescribed webs 42, 52, 43, 53, 62 may be augmented by additional websand fasteners, or may be combined and/or eliminated, as explained above,such that a single web could be passed down the back surface 16, andthrough the bight 15 to couple to the booster seat 18, 118, 318, or downthe back surface to couple directly to a tether anchorage or a loweranchorage attached to the vehicle.

A non-exclusive example of an illustrative mounting assembly 240utilizing a single web is shown in FIG. 4. For convenience, the singleweb is labeled as 62, but it could just as easily have been labeled 42,43, 52, 53 since any single web is contemplated. Mounting assembly 240is substantially similar in many respects to mounting assembly 40.Therefore, while additional webs such as for example under webs 52 and53 have been eliminated, over webs 43, 42, under web 62, cross member 58and connecting member 63 are constructed and operate substantially inaccordance with the above description, with the exception that, as notedabove, web 62 illustratively is equipped with a fastener 61 and webadjuster 46 configured to attach directly to a tether anchorage.Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3, web 62 need not attach to the front ofbase or booster 18, 118, 318; although, if desired, a web attached tothe front of base 18, 118, 318 and a web attached to a tether anchorageis contemplated. It will be appreciated that fastener 61 issubstantially similar to fasteners 45. Also, fastener 61 could bereplaced by a connector, such as illustrative connector 68 andconfigured to attach directly to a lower anchorage such as anchorage 21.So too, any such fastener 45, 61 or connector 68 could pass through thebight 15 and attach directly to the booster seat 18, 118, 318 at, forexample, mounting assembly anchor point 85. Although the tetheranchorage 60 is shown attached to the vehicle generally at the bight ofthe vehicle seat, it will be appreciated that it may be attached orcoupled to the floor of the vehicle, under the seat portion 13, to theback portion 12, to the parcel shelf (not shown) of a vehicle, or toanother suitable location as desired and perhaps as described by rulesand regulations such as for example and without limitation FMVSS 225.The single-strap 62 configuration of mounting assembly 240 could also beequipped with a V-shaped connecting member at one or both ends, such asconnecting member 44 or 63, in order to provide more than one connectionto mount to the booster seat 18, 118, 318 anchor points 85, 86 and/or tothe vehicle's anchorages 21, 60. This just described single-strap 62back portion of mounting assembly 240 may be combined with the frontportion of mounting assembly 40 (FIG. 1 and as described) or the frontportion of mounting assembly 140 (FIG. 3 and as described) or viceversa. It will be appreciated that the booster seat 18, 118, 318 may beequipped with fasteners 45, 61 and/or connectors 68 which couple withcoupling members 54 attached to any of the end portions of any of thewebs 42, 43, 52, 53, 62 of the various mounting assemblies 40, 140, 240,or directly to the vehicle as will now be described.

Restraint systems 110, 210, 310 represent further illustrativeembodiments. As noted above, restraint systems 10, 110, 210, 310generally comprise a seat base 18, 118 or 318, a restraint assembly 20,220, and any of the mounting assemblies 40, 140, 240 previouslydescribed and combinations and/or variations thereof. Thus, looking atrestraint systems 210 and 310 of FIGS. 9 and 10, while over webs 42, 43and under web 62 are depicted generally as in FIG. 1, any of theconfigurations of mounting assemblies 40, 140, 240 may be used asdepicted in FIGS. 1-4 and/or described herein. Indeed, the illustrativeembodiment of FIG. 10 depicts a mounting assembly 340 comprising amounting assembly portion having over webs 42, 43 connected to the base318 as in assembly 40 as well as another mounting assembly portionhaving over webs connected to connecting member 44 in turn connected tothe web 41 and in turn connected to the base 318 of FIG. 10 in forexample the manner depicted for mounting assembly 140 in FIG. 3. It willbe appreciated, therefore, that the illustrative embodiment 310 of FIG.10 could have any of the mounting assemblies 40, 140, 240 appliedconsistently throughout the mounting portions associated with eachpassenger or occupant support surface or section 96A-C, or anycombination of the mounting assemblies 40, 140, 240, such as for examplehas just been described. It will further be appreciated that thepassenger support surfaces 96A-C depicted in FIG. 10 could be replacedby individual and generally unconnected booster seats 18, 118representing any combination of mounting assemblies 40, 140, 240 and/orrestraint assemblies 20, 220 associated therewith. One or more of theunder straps 62 shown in FIG. 10 could be eliminated altogether, orattached to a tether anchorage as in FIG. 4. For example, just thecenter strap 62 in FIG. 10 could be eliminated altogether and the leftand right straps 62 could be used and one or more of the remainingstraps 62 may be attached as already described or may be attached to atether anchorage rather than to the front of booster 318. So, too, inthe illustrative embodiment of FIG. 9, the strap 62 could be eliminatedaltogether or attached to a tether anchorage 60, rather than to thefront of the booster base 18, 118.

In addition to or in lieu of the mounting assemblies 40, 140, 240described above, restraint system 110 uses mounting fasteners and/orconnectors, which are also adaptable for use with restraint systems 210and 310. Thus, restraint systems 10, 110, 210, 310 may comprisefasteners 45, 61 or connectors such as illustrative connector 68 carriedby or attached directly to the booster seat 18, 118, 318. Referring toFIG. 7, for example, illustrative connectors 68 are received in recess103 and are retained therein by one or more flexible, semi-flexible, orsemi-rigid member, such as for example a web, belt, strap, rope or thelike. For example, connector retention assembly 90 comprises web portion91 and web portion 92 and illustratively retains the connectors 68. Morespecifically, web portion 91 and web portion 92 are coupled to eachconnector 68 at mounting aperture 94. While web portion 91 and webportion 92 may be separate and discrete lengths of web associated witheach other by for example stitching, melting, hook and loop, snaps,rivets, gluing, cementing, and the like, they may also be associated byband or clamp 95, or they may be a single length of web. In any event,web portion 92 illustratively has an elastic or semi-elastic portionthat allows the length of web portion 92 to increase as a force alongthe direction of the arrows 69 in FIGS. 6 and 7 is applied to webportion 92. For example a user may grasp one, or both, of theconnectors, which grasp illustratively is facilitated by indentation102, and pull the connector outwardly away from its recessed position(FIG. 6) in the recess 103 in the direction of arrow 69. This forceurges web portion 92 against the web guide 88, and causes the elasticportion of web portion 92 to expand. This force also urges web portion91 against the web guide 88 as web portion 91 is also pulled or urged inthe direction of arrow 70 and/or 71. However, web portion 91illustratively does not comprise an elastic portion; therefore, when webportion 91 reaches web guide 88 under normal conditions it will notlengthen and the outward movement of connector 68 generally will behalted. Therefore, the degree of the connector's 68 travel outside ofthe recess 103 is generally limited both by the degree the elasticportion of web portion 92 may be expanded and by the length of webportion 91. Illustratively, it is the length of web portion 91 thatprovides the ultimate limitation on the degree of connector's 68 traveloutside the recess.

In operation, the illustrative booster seat 18, 118 of restraint system110 may be mounted to the vehicle seat 11 by pulling one of theconnectors 68 out of recess 103 and engaging it with for example loweranchorage 21 (FIG. 3) or other suitable anchorage. In the engagedposition, the lower anchorage 21, such as for example and withoutlimitation a roundbar, is located behind the finger 78 of the connector68. Thereafter, or at the same time, the other illustrative connector 68may be engaged with another low anchorage 21. It will be appreciatedthat the connector(s) 68 may be fixedly attached to the booster seat 18,118, 318 in a ready position, rather than extending from and retractinginto the recess 113. In such a case, for example, the connectors 68might be covered by a door or other covering and the need for theretention web assembly 90 would be eliminated. So too, the connectors 68might be fixedly attached to the booster seat 18, 118, 318 but pivot,whether up, down, laterally or obliquely, from a recess into positionfor engagement without need for the retention web assembly 90. It wouldalso fall within the scope of the invention for the connectors 68 totelescope out of recess 103 on some type of rigid, perhaps lockable andretractable railing system or an equivalent thereof.

Even further ways of mounting the bases 18, 118, 318 to a vehicle seat11 are contemplated. For example, and without limitation, a pair ofopposing slots (not shown) may be formed through sides 99 to receivetherethrough a belt or other flexible or semi-flexible member to mountthe base 18, 118, 318 to a vehicle seat 11. For example and withoutlimitation, a slot could be provided in each of indentations 93 and avehicle's integral seat belt passed through one of the slots, around webguide 88 and through the opposite slot. Such a seat belt might forexample and without limitation be the lap belt and tongue integral to anairplane seat, which tongue is passed through the opposing slots insuccession and engaged with the buckle connected to the other lap belton the airplane seat to mount the booster seat 18, 118 to the airplaneseat. In another embodiment depicted in FIGS. 12 and 13, the use of avehicle's integral seat belt restraint system to mount the booster seat118, or the other booster seats 18, 318 if desired, to the vehicle isfacilitated by arms, appendages or handles 67. Appendages 67 may butneed not be an integrally formed part of booster seat 118 (or boosterseat 18, 318 if desired) and may be shaped to form belt receivingchannels 79. The lap belt of a two-point or a three-point vehiclerestraint system may be received through the channels 79. It will beappreciated that booster seat 18 and 318 can also be formed withappendages 67 and in the case of booster seat 318, extensions to thevehicle's lap belt may need to be used. In another embodiment, more thanone of the vehicle's lap belts may be used to mount booster seat 318 tothe vehicle. The use of a vehicle's integrated seat belt system to mountbooster seat 18, 118, 318 to the vehicle may be used alone or incombination with any of the mounting assemblies 40, 140, 240, 340described herein and/or in combination with a connector 68 and anchoragesystem. Similarly, while engagement of the connectors 68, or even asingle connector 68, or perhaps more than two connectors 68, as justdescribed is sufficient to mount the booster seat 18, 118, 318 to thevehicle seat 11, the booster seat 18, 118, 318 may be further secured,if desired, using any of the mounting assemblies 40, 140, 240, 340 aloneor in combination with the vehicle's integrated seat belt system(s) asalready noted and described above. For example and without limitation,the connector(s) 68 may be engaged with the lower anchorages 21, andthen web 62 may be wrapped over the top 14 of the seat back 12, or underthe seat 13, and its connector 61 attached to any suitable tetheranchorage 60 as described. The length of web 62 may be adjusted throughthe use of web adjuster 46, or other suitable device. As just noted, acenter web 62 could be attached to anchor point 85 and routed downwardlyto attach to a tether anchorage 60 on the floor, or routed downwardlyunder the seat 13 to attach to a tether anchorage 60 in the bight 15 oron the back 16 of the seat. So too, webs 42, 43, 52, 53, alone or inconjunction with web 62, could be routed and engaged as alreadydescribed. Similarly, a single web could wrap around the seat and engagea tether anchorage 60, or attach directly to the booster seat asdescribed herein to augment the mounting provided by connector(s) 68. Inanother embodiment, the connector(s) 68 could engage with one or moreanchorages 21, 60, one or more of the vehicle's integral seat beltscould be routed through the booster seat 18, 118, 318 slots (not shown)or channel(s) 79, and one or more webs connected to the booster seat 18,118, 318 could be wrapped around the vehicle's seat in any suitablemanner. In other embodiments, the vehicle's integral seat belts may beused alone, or the illustrative connectors 68 may be used alone, or oneor more webs 41, 42, 43, 52, 53, 62, and/or 63 may be wrapped around theseat 11 alone to mount the booster seat 18, 118, 318. In short, anycombination or permutation of the various mounting assemblies 40, 140,240, 340 of restraint systems 10, 110, 210, 310 may be used alone or inconjunction with each other and/or with the vehicle's integrated seatbelt system, which in turn may be used alone, as described herein andequipped with any of the illustrative restraint assemblies 20, 220 whichwill now be described.

The restraint assembly 20 configured for use with the vehicle restraintsystems 10, 110, 310 illustratively may comprise a four-point orfive-point restraint system. The illustrative restraint assembly 20generally and illustratively comprises two lengths 36 and 37 of anysuitable flexible or semi-flexible material such as for example withoutlimitation a web, belt, rope, strap, and the like, having respectivefirst ends 30 and 31 and respective opposing second ends 38 and 39.Second end 38 is attached to over web 42 and second end 39 is attachedto over web 43 by any suitable means, such as for example withoutlimitation by stitching, tape, hook and loop, cement, glue, melting,snaps, buttons, zippers, tacks and the like. Illustratively, across-member 59 (FIG. 3), as described above, may extend between overwebs 42 and 43 and may be attached thereto and to webs 36 and 37 over oradjacent to ends 38 and 39. Other cross-members (not shown) may bespaced apart along the lengths of over webs 42 and 43 to furtherassociate over webs 42 and 43. Opposing ends 30 and 31 are threadedthrough respective web adjusters 28 and 29. The web adjusters 28 and 29illustratively may each be equipped with an integrated conventionaltongue configured to mate with a conventional buckle (not shown)attached to the booster seat 18, 118, 318. In the alternative, the webadjuster 28 and 29 may be attached directly to the booster seat 18, 118,318. Disposed on the webs between the opposing ends 30 and 38 andopposing ends 31 and 39 are conventional tongues 26 and 27, which areconfigured to mate with conventional buckle 23, which in turn isattached to booster seat 18, 118, 318 by connecting member 22.Connecting member 22 may be any suitable flexible, semi-flexible, rigid,or semi-rigid material and may be attached to the booster seat 18, forexample, at restraint assembly anchor point 82 (FIGS. 3 and 7). Althoughnot shown, connecting member 22 may optionally be equipped with a webadjuster operable to vary the length of connecting member 22. So too, asjust noted, web adjusters 28 and 29 may be integrated with the tongues26 and 27 as is known in the art. In addition, a central type adjustsystem could be used, such as for example and without limitation asdisclosed in commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 4,679,852, the disclosure ofwhich is now incorporated herein by reference. Also, those skilled inthe art will appreciate that an optional harness clip 75, describedbelow, may be integrated with mid-belt adjusters (not shown) to replaceor augment web adjusters 28, 29.

In operation, the webs 36 and 37 are placed over the shoulders of anoccupant or passenger 19 sitting on the booster seat 18, 118, 318 whichhas been mounted to the seat 11 in any of the ways previously described.The tongues 26, 27 are then mated or engaged with the buckle 23 therebyforming a five-point restraint with the webs 36 and 37 being divided bythe tongues 26 and 27 into respective lap portions 24 and 25 and torsoportions extending between the tongues 26 and 27 and the ends 38 and 39.The ends of webs 36 and 37 proximate to the lap portions 24 and 25illustratively are attached to the restraint assembly anchor points 81(FIGS. 3, 7 and 12). The fit of the five-point restraint assembly 20 maybe adjusted using the web adjusters 28 and 29. The fit may further beadjusted by use of optional and conventional height adjusters 72 and 73and the optional harness clip 75. Examples, without limitation, ofsuitable height adjusters are found in commonly owned U.S. Pat. No.6,886,889, the disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference.The various web adjusters mentioned throughout the illustrativeembodiments illustratively may also be in accordance with and implementthe disclosure of the WEB POSITION ADJUSTING DEVICE patent. As explainedin U.S. Pat. No. 6,886,889, the height adjusters 72, 73 are movablymounted to and configured to associate restraint webs 36 and 37 andrespective mounting webs 42 and 43. Adjuster 72, which may for examplebe of a conventional 3-bar construction, slides up and own the lengthsof web 42 and web 36 in order to increase or decrease the operativelength of web 36 and thereby properly size the restraint assembly 20about the shoulders of the passenger or occupant 19. Similarly, adjuster73 slides up and down the lengths of web 43 and web 37 in order toincrease or decrease the operative length of web 37 and thereby properlysize the restraint assembly 20 about the shoulders of the occupant 19.It will be appreciated that cross-member 59 illustratively would set theupper limit of movement of the adjusters 72, 73, while the shoulders ofthe occupant 19 generally would set the lower limit of movement,provided that the occupant's shoulders are higher than the optionalchest strap 32 and/or connecting member 44, which would otherwise setthe lower limit of movement. Of course, in order to accommodate talleroccupants, the cross-member 59 could be placed further up on themounting webs 42, 43, or as noted, could be removed altogether ifdesired. Examples, without limitation, of suitable harness clips arefound in commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 5,839,793 and U.S. Pat. No.5,873,635, both of the disclosures of which are now incorporated hereinby reference.

As another option, the restraint assembly 20 may be equipped with theaforementioned chest web or strap 32 or other suitable flexible orsemi-flexible member. One end of the optional chest web 32 may beattached directly to either over web 42 or over web 43, with theopposing end of web 32 being coupled to a tongue 33, or a buckle 34,configured to mate with a corresponding buckle or tongue attached to theother over web 42 or 43 as the case may be. In the alternative, as seenin FIGS. 1 and 3, each opposing end of chest web 32 may be equipped witheither a buckle or a tongue, or one end could have a tongue and theother end a buckle, which is configured to mate with a buckle or tongue,as the case may be, attached to the respective over web 42, 43.Illustratively, a web adjuster may be included on one or both ends ofthe chest web 32 to adjust the operable length and fit of the chest web32 about an occupant 19. The chest web 32 may be eliminated (FIG. 10) ormay underlie (FIGS. 1 and 10) or overlie (FIGS. 3 and 10) the shoulderwebs 36 and 37 as desired in any of the illustrative embodiments.

The embodiment of FIG. 9 comprises another illustrative restraintassembly 220 that may provide additional support for an occupant,including without limitation a special needs passenger. Restraintassembly 220 illustratively is configured for use with any of vehiclerestraint systems 10, 110, 210, 310 and generally comprises a torso orchest support assembly 201, a connecting member 222, and two lengths 236and 237 of any suitable flexible or semi-flexible material such as forexample without limitation a web, belt, rope, strap, and the like,having respective first ends 230 and 231 and respective opposing secondends 38 and 39. Second end 38 is attached to over web 42 and second end39 is attached to over web 43 by any suitable means, such as for examplewithout limitation by stitching, tape, hook and loop, cement, glue,melting, snaps, buttons, zippers, tacks and the like. A cross-member 59(FIG. 3), as described above, may extend between over webs 42 and 43 andmay be attached thereto and to webs 236 and 237 over or adjacent to ends38 and 39. Other cross-members (not shown) may be spaced apart along thelengths of over webs 42 and 43 to further associate over webs 42 and 43.Opposing end 231 illustratively is threaded through tongue 227 and oneor more web adjusters, such as for example and without limitation webadjuster 229. In any event, tongue 227 is configured to engage with aconventional buckle and or combination buckle/adjuster 29 attached tothe base 18, 318 at for example anchor point 81 (FIGS. 7 and 12) toreleasably lock or secure the length of web 236 to the booster or base18, 118, 318. Alternative configurations are also contemplated. Forexample, and without limitation, tongue 227 could be integrated with aweb adjuster to replace web adjuster 229. Illustratively, the opposingend of web 237 opposite to end 39 may be attached to base 18, 118, 318,for example at anchor point 81 (FIGS. 7 and 12) in the vicinity ofadjuster 28 in FIG. 9. Alternatively, the opposite end may be attachedto an illustrative midbelt web adjuster 228. Another length of web 224could be attached at one end to the booster base 18, 118, 318 at forexample anchor point 81 (FIGS. 7 and 12) in the vicinity of adjuster 28depicted in FIG. 9, with opposing end 230 threaded through web adjuster228. In either event, a tongue 226 may be disposed on the web portionbetween the torso portion 337 and where the opposing end attaches to thebase 18, 118, 318; illustratively between the web adjuster 228 and thebase attachment. When the tongue 226 engages a buckle or combinationadjuster and buckle 28, a lap portion 224 is formed. Illustratively,connecting member 222 is attached at one end to the base 18, 118, 318for example at anchor point 82 (FIGS. 7 and 12) and is equipped at itsopposite end 274 with a web adjuster 223. Connecting member 222 may beany suitable flexible, semi-flexible, rigid, or semi-rigid material. Inaddition, a central type adjust system could be used, such as forexample and without limitation as disclosed in commonly owned andpreviously incorporated by reference U.S. Pat. No. 4,679,852.

Restraint assembly 220 illustratively further comprises a chest or torsosupport assembly 201. Torso support assembly 201 generally comprises achest pad 204 and a web guide member 205. Illustratively, chest pad 204may be formed of a cushioning material such as for example and withoutlimitation rubber or foam, while the web guide member 205 may be formedof a rigid or semi-rigid metallic, non-metallic or composite materialsuch as for example and without limitation plastic. Illustratively, thechest pad 204 and web guide member 205 have a generally circular shape,although all shapes are contemplated, such as for example triangular,square, rectangular, ovate, octagonal and the like without limitation.It will also be appreciated that the chest pad 204 and web guide member205 could comprise a single member. In any event, a pair of guide clips206 and 207 are formed on, and a guide channel 209 is formed through thetorso support assembly 201. A web extension member 208, which may be anysuitable flexible, semi-flexible, semi-rigid or rigid member, is formedon or attached to the torso support assembly 201 by any suitable means.The extension member 208 is illustratively equipped with a tongue 280configured to engage combination buckle and web adjuster 223, it beingappreciated that the combination buckle/adjuster could just be a buckle223. It will further be appreciated that the tongue/buckle portion ofthe tongue 280 and buckle/adjuster 223 combination may be of the quickdisconnect type of tongue 280 and buckle 223. Illustratively, chest webor strap 32 or other suitable flexible, semi-flexible or semi-rigidmember is threaded through the guide channel 209. One end of the chestweb 32 may be associated or coupled directly to either over web 42 orover web 43, with the opposing end of web 32 being coupled to a tongueor a buckle 34, configured to mate with a corresponding buckle or tongueattached to the other web 42 or 43 as the case may be. In anotherembodiment, as seen in FIGS. 1 and 3, each opposing end of chest web 32may be equipped with either a buckle or a tongue, or one end could havea tongue and the other end a buckle, which is configured to mate with abuckle or tongue, as the case may be, attached to the respective overweb 42, 43. Illustratively, a web adjuster may be included in thebuckle/tongue 34 combination on one or both ends of the chest web 32 toadjust the operable length and fit of the chest web 32 about an occupantor passenger 19.

In operation, the chest web 32 is wrapped about the occupant 19 and thetongue/buckle/adjuster 34 operated to lock and adjust the fit of the web32 about the occupant and to properly position the torso supportassembly 201 on the occupant. The shoulder webs 236 and 237 may then bedrawn across the occupant or passenger as follows. Web 236illustratively is drawn across the passenger 19, threaded through guideportion or clip 206, and secured by engaging tongue 227 with itscorresponding buckle. The fit of the web 236 may then be adjusted byoperation of the web adjuster 229. Similarly, web 337 may be drawndiagonally across the occupant 19 and the tongue 226 engaged with itscorresponding buckle as shown and thereby drawing the lap portion 224across the lap of the occupant 19. The fit of the lap portion 224 andthe web 337 may be adjusted with the web adjuster 228 or other suitableweb adjuster. It will be appreciated that the lap portion 224 could alsobe attached at one end to a web retractor. Tongue 280 may be engagedwith buckle/adjuster 223, with the adjuster 223 operable to adjust orvary the length of the extension member 222. It will be appreciated thatthe above sequence is illustrative only, such that any of the webs 32,236, 237, 222 and their associated tongue/buckle connections may be madein any desired order. Moreover, the webs 236 and 237 could be threadedunder the guide members or clips 206 and 207 after the tongue 226, 227and buckle engagement are made. The fit of the restraint assembly 220may be further adjusted, at any desired time, by use of optional andconventional height adjusters 72 and 73 as described herein above. Therestraint assembly 220 may be configured for use with any of themounting assemblies 40, 140, 240, 340 and systems 10, 110, 210, 310 andvariations thereof described herein.

Also depicted in FIG. 9 is an illustrative lateral support assembly 76.As best seen in FIGS. 14-16, lateral support assembly 76 illustrativelycomprises a pair of spaced apart wings 101 movably coupled to a mountingmember 105 having a front facing-surface 106, a pair of spaced-apartupper mounting slots 107, a pair of spaced-apart lower mounting slots108. The wings 101 may have suitable cushioning over a suitable rigid orsemi-rigid support structure (not shown). The support structure, and themounting member 105 for example and without limitation may be formedfrom any suitable rigid or semi-rigid, metallic, non-metallic orcomposite material such as plastic or the like. The cushioning may befoam, rubber or other suitable material and may be covered by cloth orother suitable material if desired. The support assembly 76 may beremovable and adjustable. For example, the support assembly 76 could bemounted to the seat 11 or to appropriate portions of the mountingassemblies 40, 140, 240, 340 and/or restraint assemblies 20, 220. Forexample and without limitation the over webs 42, 43 may be threadedthrough the respective mounting slots 107, 108 of illustrative mountingmember 105. The webs 42, 43 could be threaded upwardly (relative to thepage of FIG. 14) through slots 108 and proceed across front-facingsurface 106 and downwardly through slots 107; or, they could be threaddownwardly through slots 108 and along the back-facing surface oppositeto surface 106 and upwardly through slots 107. It is unimportant how orin what order the webs 42, 43 are threaded through the slots 107, 108.In addition, the support assembly 76 can be mounted to other webs, forexample and without limitation, to webs 41, 44, and/or 59, alone or incombination with each other or with webs 42, 43. Additional mountingslots could be formed in the mounting member 105 to accommodate mountingvia these other webs. The support assembly 76 could also be mounted byother suitable methods, alone or in combination with each other or withthe mounting slots 107, 108, such as by for example hook and loops,snaps, zippers or by any other suitable method or structure. For exampleand without limitation the support assembly could be attached to thewebs 42, 43, or even to the seat back portion 12 by hook and loops orthe like. No matter whether mounting member 105 or one or more of theother suitable methods/structures for mounting is used, it iscontemplated, that the support assembly 76 may be positioned up and downthe length of the occupant from the occupant's head down to just abovethe base 18, 118, 318. In addition, multiple support assemblies 76 couldbe accommodated. So, for example, one support assembly 76 could bepositioned about the occupant's head, and another support assembly 76simultaneously may be positioned under the occupant's arms. Or, asdepicted, a single assembly 76 may be positioned about the occupant's 19head. The wings 101 are movably attached to the mounting member 105, orother suitable structure, by illustrative hinges 104. The hinges areconfigured with sufficient tension to allow the wings to be moved to adesired position without the need to actuate any type of releasemechanism and generally retained in that position without the need toengage any type of locking mechanism. If desired, however, any suitablelocking and/or release mechanism may be used. As best seen in FIGS.14-16, the illustrative wings 101 may be positioned and moved between aposition generally parallel and adjacent to front-facing surface 106(not shown), a position generally perpendicular to mounting member 105(FIG. 9 and 14), a position generally parallel and co-planar withmounting member 105 (FIG. 15), a position generally parallel andadjacent to the surface opposite front-facing surface 106 (FIG. 16), andany intermediate positions therebetween.

It will be appreciated that the booster seats 18, 118, 318 may beequipped with a lap belt system alone in lieu of any of the restraintassemblies 20, 220 to restrain the occupant(s) 19. Furthermore, thebooster seats 18, 118, 318 could be equipped with just a lap belt foruse in combination with the chest web 32 alone or with the chest web andtorso support assembly 201 alone. Those skilled in the art will furtherappreciate that the tongues 26 and 27 in restraint assembly 20 could bereplaced by a single tongue configuration known to those skilled in theart. It will also be appreciated that the booster seat 18, 118, 318could be equipped with a retractor mechanism such as for example andwithout limitation any automatic locking retractor, which could then beintegrated with the restraint system 20, 220. Indeed, any conventionalrestraint system may be configured for use with the mounting assembly40, 140, 240, 340 and booster seat 18, 118, 318 combinations.

Referring to FIG. 8, an example of an illustrative cover and/or cushion180 is depicted. The optional cover 180 generally comprises a pluralityof panels or sections. For example, an illustrative cover may comprise aseat panel 181, a front panel 182, one or more back panels 184, 185, ahead panel 183, and a securing tab 189. The cover 180 may further definea crotch slot 186, restraint belt indentations 187, chest strap slits188, mounting indentations 190, and shoulder strap indentations 193.Creases or hinges 191, 192, and 194 are provided between the panels. Inoperation, seat panel 181 may be laid on the upward facing surface ofthe booster seat 18, then folded approximately 90 degrees at crease 191so that front panel 182 and head panel 183 lie generally perpendicularto seat panel 181 adjacent the webs 41, 42, and/or 43. Back panels 184,185 fold at creases 192 and wrap around the webs 41, 42, and/or 43 untilthe back panels are generally behind the opposite front panel 182 suchthat the webs 41, 42, and/or 43 are sandwiched between the front panel182 and the back panels 184, 185. It will be appreciated that the backpanels 184 and 185 may overlap each other in whole or in part, or maylie adjacent to each other in side-by-side relation. The webs 42 and 43will be further sandwiched between the head panel 183 and the seat back12. The connecting member 22 may be routed through slot 186, the web lapportions 24, 25 may be routed through the indentations 187, the optionalchest strap 32 may be routed through the slits 188, and the shoulderstraps 36, 37 may be routed through the indentations 193 and thenwrapped around and engaged about a passenger 19 as described above.Mounting indentations 190 allow access to the connectors 68 and/or tomounting assembly anchor points 86. Securing panel or tab 189 folds backand around cross member 59 sandwiching the cross member 59 between tab189 and head panel 183. The cover 180 may be held in place by anysuitable method to include without limitation hook and loops, snaps,clasps, zippers, buttons, ties, and the like. The cover 180 may befashioned out of any suitable natural, synthetic or composite material,such as for example and without limitation, leather, cotton, nylon,spandex, plastic, wool and the like and may contain any natural orsynthetic cushioning such as latex, rubber, foam and the like. Inaddition, the cover 180 could incorporate rigid or semi-rigid materials,whether natural or synthetic, to provide further support if desired. Itwill be appreciated that the cover 180 may be fitted to any of theillustrative embodiments 10, 110, 210, 310 described and depictedherein. In addition, the support assembly 76 optionally may be mountedto the outside of cover 180 or mounted inside the cover 180 as desiredand generally as described above.

Just as restraint system 310 may be mounted to a seat 11 using any oneor combination of mounting assemblies 40, 110, 140, 240 describedherein, so too any one or combination of the restraint assemblies 20,220 and variations thereof or other restraint devices and methodsdescribed herein, may be used in restraint system 310. Illustratively,for example, FIG. 10 shows three variations of the over webs, chestwebs, and mounting webs. So too, FIG. 10 could have depicted one or moreof the positions 96A-C with restraint assembly 220. It will beappreciated, that a uniform version is also contemplated, for exampleeach occupant position 96A-C may be equipped with restraint assembly 20,or with restraint assembly 220 and each with the same configuration ofover webs, chest webs, and mounting webs.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in thedrawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered asillustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood thatonly illustrative embodiments have been shown and described and that allchanges and modifications that come within the spirit of the inventionare desired to be protected.

1-46. (canceled)
 47. A restraint system for restraining a passenger in avehicle seat having a seat portion and a back portion defining a bighttherebetween, the restraint system comprising: a portable seat baseconfigured to be positioned on the seat portion of the vehicle seat andto support the passenger in a seated position thereon, a mountingassembly coupled to the seat base and configured to mount to the vehicleseat, and a restraint assembly coupled to the seat base and to themounting assembly, the restraint assembly configured to restrain thepassenger positioned on the seat base; and, wherein the mountingassembly is configured to wrap at least partially around the backportion of the vehicle seat and extend upwardly and downwardly relativeto the back portion of the vehicle seat.
 48. (canceled)
 49. Therestraint system of claim 47 wherein the seat portion of the vehicleseat defines a rear portion adjacent to the bight and a front portionextending forwardly away from the bight, and wherein the mounting systemis further configured to extend under the seat portion from the rearportion toward the front portion thereof and then upwardly intoengagement with the seat base. 50-53. (canceled)
 54. The restraintsystem of claim 47 wherein the restraint assembly is a multiple-pointrestraint harness.
 55. The restraint system of claim 47 furtherincluding a plurality of seat bases coupled to the mounting assembly,each of the plurality of seat bases having a separate restraint assemblycoupled hereto and to the mounting assembly, each of the separaterestraint assemblies configured to restrain a different passengerpositioned on the corresponding seat base.
 56. A safety restraint systemfor mounting a child to a vehicle seat which has a vehicle back portionand a vehicle seat portion with a seat bight located therebetween, saidvehicle back portion including a forwardly facing side and a rearwardlyfacing side and comprising: a child seat restable atop a vehicle seat,said child seat includes a base positionable atop a vehicle seat portionof a vehicle seat, said base supporting a child thereatop while thechild is supported by a vehicle back portion of the vehicle seat; amounting assembly connected to said child seat having a first mountingportion extendable upwardly on a forwardly facing side of said vehicleback portion and a second mounting portion extending downwardly on arearwardly facing side of said vehicle back portion with said firstmounting portion and said second mounting portion having adjacent endsin contact with each other being releasably connected together to securesaid child seat to said vehicle seat; and, a restraint assemblyconnected to said child seat to secure a child thereto, said restraintassembly having a pair of restraint straps with top portions and bottomportions, said restraint assembly further having a crotch strapextending upwardly from said base, said crotch strap having a top endwith a crotch connector secured thereto, said restraint straps havingstrap connectors between said top portions and said bottom portions thatare releasably lockable with said crotch connector to secure the childto said child seat, and wherein: said restraint straps extend upwardlyfrom said base with top portions connected to said mounting assembly,said mounting assembly extendable upwardly from said base adjacent saidvehicle back portion to an in-use position, said mounting assembly andsaid restraint assembly are flexible and once said adjacent ends areunconnected with each other enables collapsing of said mounting assemblyand said restraint assembly from extending upwardly to adjacent saidchild seat when in a stored condition.
 57. The safety restraint systemof claim 56 wherein: said mounting assembly further has an additionalmounting portion connected thereto, said additional mounting portionextends adjacent and beneath said vehicle seat portion and is secured tosaid child seat.
 58. A safety restraint system for mounting a child to avehicle seat which has a vehicle back portion and a vehicle seat portionwith a seat bight located therebetween, said vehicle back portionincluding a forwardly facing side and a rearwardly facing side andcomprising: a child seat restable atop a vehicle seat, said child seatincludes a base positionable atop a vehicle seat portion of a vehicleseat, said base supporting a child thereatop while the child issupported by a vehicle back portion of the vehicle seat; a mountingassembly connected to said child seat having a first mounting portionextendable upwardly on a forwardly facing side of said vehicle backportion and a second mounting portion extending downwardly on arearwardly facing side of said vehicle back portion with said firstmounting portion and said second mounting portion having adjacentportions in contact with each other being connected together to securesaid child seat to said vehicle seat; and, a restraint assemblyconnected to said child seat to secure a child thereto, said restraintassembly having a pair of restraint straps with top portions and bottomportions, said restraint assembly further having a crotch strapextending upwardly from said base, said crotch strap having a top endwith a crotch connector secured thereto, said restraint straps havingstrap connectors between said top portions and said bottom portions thatare releasably lockable with said crotch connector to secure the childto said child seat, and wherein: said restraint straps extend upwardlyfrom said base with top portions connected to said mounting assembly,said mounting assembly extendable upwardly from said base adjacent saidvehicle back portion to an in-use position, said mounting assembly andsaid restraint assembly are flexible and enables collapsing of saidmounting assembly and said restraint assembly from extending upwardly toadjacent said child seat when in a stored condition; and wherein saidvehicle seat includes anchorages and further comprising: a pair ofanchorage connectors attached to said child seat and lockinglyengageable with anchorages disposed in the seat bight of the vehicleseat securing said child seat thereto; and wherein said second mountingportion is connected to said vehicle seat securing said child seat tothe vehicle seat.
 59. A safety restraint system for mounting a child toa vehicle seat which has a vehicle back portion and a vehicle seatportion comprising: a child seat restable atop a vehicle seat, saidchild seat providing a base positionable atop a vehicle seat portion ofa vehicle seat, said base supporting a child thereatop; a mountingassembly having a first mounting portion and a second mounting portion,said mounting assembly extendable upwardly and then over and down avehicle back portion of the vehicle seat while connected to said childseat to secure said child seat to the vehicle seat; and, a restraintassembly connected to said child seat to secure a child thereto, saidrestraint assembly having a restraint strap with a top end and a bottomportion, said restraint assembly further having a crotch strap extendingupwardly from said base and having a crotch connector secured thereto,said restraint strap having a restraint connector between said top endand said bottom portion that is releasably lockable with said crotchconnector to secure the child to said child seat, and wherein: said topend of said restraint strap is connected to said mounting assembly, saidrestraint assembly and said mounting assembly extendable upwardly fromsaid base to an in-use position but are flexible enabling collapsing ofsaid restraint assembly and said mounting assembly adjacent said childseat when in a stored condition.
 60. A child restraint for mounting to avehicle seat that has a vehicle back portion and a vehicle seat portioncomprising: a child seat restable atop a vehicle seat portion of avehicle seat; a mounting strap assembly attached to said child seat andextendable upwardly and downwardly around said vehicle back portion toreleasably hold said child seat to said vehicle back portion of saidvehicle seat; a crotch strap secured to said child seat and having acrotch connector; restraint strap portions each with top ends and lowerportions, said top ends of said strap portions being connected to saidmounting strap assembly and having strap connectors in between said topends and said lower portions, said crotch connector and said strapconnectors releasably connectable together to secure a child to saidchild seat; and, said mounting strap assembly and said pair of restraintstraps extending upwardly along said vehicle back portion when in usebut are collapsible downwardly to said child seat when in a storedposition.